Folding cot



Jan. 5, 1943. c. A.. DIILETRICH FOLDING COT Filed March 13, 1941Patented Jan. 5, 1943 I UNITED S'E'ATES PATET QFFECE FOLDING COT Carl A.Dietrich, Carlisle, Iowa Application March 31, 1941, Serial No. 386,022

4 Claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a folding cot of simple,durable and inexpensive construction and which, when in its uprightposition, may be moved to its folded position by simply moving the topof one of the cot end members toward the center of the cot, and whenthus folded it will occupy a minimum of space for convenience inshipping and storage.

A further object is to provide means for automatically locking the cotin its upright position to thereby prevent accidental folding movement,which locking means may be quickly and easily released.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 shows a side view of the cot in itsupright position;

Figure 2 shows a transverse sectional view of same on the line 2-2 ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 shows a side view of the cot in folded position; and

Figure 4 shows a fragmentary plan view of one side of the cot in itsupright position with parts of the cross-braces broken away to showengagement of the locking pin therein.

The cot comprises a mattress supporting frame having parallel sidemembers Ill and a series of cross members I I. The ends of the sidemembers are extended beyond the adjacent cross member, as shown at I2.

The head and foot members are alike, and each comprises two cornerposts. Each post has an upright leg portion I3, and an upright headportion I4 which is offset longitudinally of the bed from the legportion, the leg portions I3 being set inwardly toward the transversecenter of the cot for purposes hereinafter made clear. Each cot post ispivotally connected with the mattress supporting frame by a screw I5.

Secured to the head portions I4 are cross pieces I6 forming a cot headmember, the lower cross piece is so positioned that it will engage andrest upon the adjacent end I2 of the mattress supporting frame when thecot is in its upright position. This prevents the head member frommoving outwardly away from the center of the cot beyond a verticalposition.

For the purpose of firmly supporting the head and foot members inupright positions I have provided two supporting bars I1 and I8 for eachside of the cot. The bar II is pivoted by means of a screw I9 to thehead post member. Above the pivot point of the post member this bar isextended longitudinally and downwardly along the side of the mattresssupporting member and is pivoted by a screw 20 to the leg member at theother end of the cot below the pivoted point of the leg member. Theother bar I8 is pivoted by a screw 2! to the leg member below the screwI9 and below the pivot of the post member, and is extendedlongitudinally of the cot and upwardly, and is pivoted by a screw 22 tothe head of the post member at the opposite end of the cot above thepivot point of the post member.

These bars cross each other at the central part of the cot, and theirends are pivoted to the post members at points equally spaced apart fromthe pivots of the post members. Said bars are pivoted to the outer sideportions of the post members, hence, they are at the outer sides of themattress supporting member.

Washers 23 are placed on the pivot screws of the outer bars H toposition them close to the outer surface of the inner bars.

For automatically locking .the cot against accidental folding movement Ihave provided a flat spring 24 fixed to the central portion of one ofthe outer bars I1 and having a pin 25 at one end. An opening is formedin the inner bar I8 in such position that when the cot is in its uprightposition the pin will spring into the opening, and since no foldingmovement of the cot can occur unless the central portions of the bars I1and I8 move longitudinally in opposite directions, the cot cannot befolded until the pin is moved out of the opening.

The cot is very simple and inexpensive, has few parts, and when inupright position is firmly braced in all directions and is strong andrigid. The end portions of the bars I1 and I8 above the mattresssupporting member serve as side boards for holding a mattress and bedclothes in position. To fold the cot it is only necessary to move theupper end of either the head member or the foot member toward the centerof the cot. Movement is thereby transmitted through the crossed bars tothe other member, and brings it to a completely folded position. Byhaving the post members shaped as shown in Figure 1, with the leg memberH3 spaced inwardly from the head of the cot relative to the pivot screwI5, a weight upon the cot tends to move the lower end of the leg membertoward the center of the cot, which movement is prevented by theengagement of the head member cross piece It engaging the projectingends I2 of the mattress supporting member at points spaced beyond thepivot screw I5 at the side opposite from the pivot I2. Hence, weight onthe cot has no tendency to fold the cot. When in folded position thehead and foot members lie flat against the top of the mattresssupporting member and the bars I! and 18 are in line transversely of thecot with the mattress supporting member, and, as shown in Figure 3, thefolded cot occupies a minimum of space for convenience in storage andshipping.

I claim as my invention:

1. A folding cot, comprising a mattress supporting member, a head memberand a foot member, each.comprising two post members pivoted to the sidesof the mattress supporting member and having a cross bar positioned torest upon a portion of said mattress supporting member at a point spacedoutwardly beyond a vertical line through said pivot when the cot isupright, and each post having a leg member spaced inwardly toward thetransverse center of the cot beyond a vertical line through said pivot,and crossed braces extended longitudinally of the mattress supportingmember and spaced outwardly from the side edges thereof, each bracehaving one of its ends pivoted to one of the end members above thepivotal point of said end member on the mattress supporting member andhaving its other end pivoted to the other end member below its pivotalpoint.

2. A folding cot, comprising a mattress supporting member, a head memberand a foot member, each comprising two post members pivoted to the sidesof the mattress supporting member and having a cross bar positioned torest upon a portion of said mattress supporting member at a point spacedoutwardly beyond a vertical line through said pivot when the cot isupright, and each post having a leg member spaced inwardly toward thetransverse center of the cot beyond a vertical line through said pivot,and crossed braces extended longitudinally of the mattress supportingmember and spaced outwardly from the side edges thereof, each bracehaving one of its ends pivoted to one of the end members above thepivotal point of said end I member on the mattress supporting member andhaving its other end pivoted to the other end member below its pivotalpoint, said crossed braces being so positioned relative to the head andfoot members that when in their folded positions they will be insubstantially the same horizontal plane as the mattress supporting m m e3. A folding cot, comprising a mattress supporting member, a head memberand a foot member, each comprising two post members pivoted to the sidesof the mattress supporting member and having a cross bar positioned torest upon a portion of said mattress supporting member at a point spacedoutwardly beyond a vertical line through said pivot when the cot isupright, and each post having a leg member spaced inwardly toward thetransverse center of the cot beyond a vertical line through said pivot,and crossed braces extended longitudinally of the mattress supportingmember and spaced outwardly from the side edges thereof, each bracehaving one of its ends pivoted to one of the end members above thepivotal point of said end member on the mattress supporting member andhaving its other end pivoted to the other end member below its pivotalpoint, and a releasable locking device at the crossed portions of saidbars for holding them against horizontal movement relative to eachother.

4. A folding cot, comprising a mattress supporting'member, a head memberand a foot member, each comprising two post members pivoted to the sidesof the mattress supporting member and having a cross bar positioned torest upon a portion of said mattress supporting member at a point spacedoutwardly beyond a vertical line through said pivot when the cot isupright, and each post having a leg member spaced inwardly toward thetransverse center of the cot beyond a vertical line through said pivot,and crossed braces extended longitudinally of the mattress supportingmember and spaced outwardly from the side edges thereof, each bracehaving one of its ends pivoted to one of the end members above thepivotal point of said end member on the mattress supporting member andhaving its other end pivoted to the other end member below its pivotalpoint, each of said head and foot members having its legs offsetinwardly toward the longitudinal center of the cot, and said mattresssupporting member having a portion at each end extended longitudinallyoutward beyond its pivotal point, with the end member, and a portion ofthe end member being shaped to engage and rest upon said extendedportion when in its open position.

' CARL A. DIETRICH.

